FAMINE FOODS. 773 



and southward to Ceylon and Malacca. Distributed Malay hills, Afr. trop." 

 In the Thana District it exists in all the forests. In many areas it is now 

 scarce, owing to the great demand during recent famine years for the tubers. 

 Description of Tubers. 

 The plant bears oblong, dark brown tubers, which are covered with root 

 hairs, and which are about 6" to 8" in length. They are inserted per- 

 pendicularly in the soil, two or three tubers being found clustered together 

 round a common axis, and imbedded in the earth like potatoes. 



After 5 or 6 months growth, when all the starchy substances have been used 

 up for the needs of the growing stem and seeds, the tubers shrivel up and 

 die as does also the stem, and new tubers are formed, which remain imbedded 

 in the earth till the approach of the following monsoon, when they again 

 sprout. During May, when the heat is extreme, tubers, if stored together 

 in wooden cases, sprout freely, their stems rising up to seek the light. 



Eate of Growth. 



The tubers may be planted at any time in the soil, and they sprout usually 

 after the rains set in. The best period for planting is just before the rains. 

 In a week the stem attains a length of about 2 to 3 feet and in six weeks it is 

 almost full grown. After 2k to 3 months it bears flowers, and after about 5 

 it seeds and dies. 



By whom eaten. 



The three important wild tribes in Thana are the Thakoors, Warlis and 

 Kathodis, of whom the latter alone are the chief consumers of these tubers. 

 The Thakoors and Warlis indulge in various other kinds of yams as food, 

 of which there are several in the Thana District. 



The Kathodis, however, who are darker and slimmer than other forest tribes 

 are the most hard-working of the three, and this may probably account for 

 their selecting the Londee as an article of diet, since it is found by analysis as 

 shown below to be probably the most nutritious of all the edible tubers in 

 Thana. So far only three ^ of the different yams growing in the District have 

 been chemically analysed. It is hoped that gradually all of them will be so 

 treated. 



The Kathodis, who allege they are descended from monkeys, are the 

 wood-cutters of the Thana District, and they are almost in a position of servi- 

 tude with their masters. The wage they earn for a family, including husband 

 and wife and two or three children, is from Es. 2 to Es. 3 per mensem. 



In some instances their emoluments are paid to them in grain. The Sowkars 

 who employ them for various kinds of labour give them advances of money 

 and grain in the monsoon, which sums are repaid by work done in the fair 

 season. 



* The other two, besides Dioscorea pentaphi/lla, are Dioscorea hulbifera and Dioscorea 

 dcemona. 



